Police back Holder before testimony

Attorney General Eric Holder received some backup Thursday from the National Fraternal Order of Police, the country’s largest group of sworn law enforcement officers, just before Holder is expected to testify in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee next week on the Fast and Furious “gun walking” program.

The FOP expressed its solidarity with Holder without mentioning the Operation Fast and Furious controversy.

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“The FOP is very proud of the strong and positive working relationship that we have had with Eric Holder, not just for the two years in which he has served as the nation’s ‘top cop,’ but through his long career of public service,” wrote Chuck Canterbury, the organization’s National President. “As the brother of a retired law enforcement officer and one of the most dedicated and experienced law enforcement leaders, General Holder has been a true partner to the FOP and to our nation’s rank-and-file officers.”

The letter, addressed to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), also emphasized the issues which Holder has worked with the organization on, such as fiscal challenges that law enforcement officers face due to budget constraints, and officer safety.

The letter can be seen as an effort to support Holder ahead of what is likely to be heated testimony and questioning in the Senate committee on Nov. 8. Some Republican lawmakers have called for Holder’s resignation.

The Fast and Furious operation attempted to investigate drug cartels and weapons traffickers but instead ended up supplying them with weapons. Investigators lost thousands of firearms, many of which crossed the border into Mexico.

The program first drew widespread scrutiny when firearms linked to the program were found at the site of the December 2010 shooting death of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.